About your plant doctor

Lydia Villa

Stanford PhD in Ecology
Lydia collecting field samples at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve

My relationship with plant health began long before my time in academia. Throughout high school, I worked in the nursery at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, mastering the hands-on, foundational care required to keep diverse flora thriving in the unique microclimates of the Bay Area. Building on that practical foundation, I have spent a number of years providing private, high-end plant care and revival services for residential clients across the region, bringing specialized health management directly into people's homes.

Today, I am a PhD student in Ecology at Stanford University. My advanced academic research has included topics in plant ecophysiology and ecology; soil microbial/plant interactions; how root systems adapt to environmental stress and drought; and large scale ecosystem shifts throughout California. I have spent years designing greenhouse experiments, managing biodiversity research at the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, and teaching Introduction to Ecology to hundreds of Stanford undergraduates. I have spent over 5 years singlehandedly keeping hundreds of greenhouse plants alive. Beyond research, I serve on an environmental risk task force in Healdsburg CA, where I helped secure a $500,000 grant to implement fire risk reduction management.

What this means for your workspace is a rare blend of real-world horticultural skill and elite scientific expertise. I don't just dump water on your corporate greenery; I understand the soil chemistry, biology, light requirements, and complex environmental stressors affecting your plants. Whether diagnosing a rare pest infestation, rescuing a dying lobby fixture, or hand-sourcing resilient specimens from regional growers, I bring a unique, data-backed approach to transforming your office into a thriving, pristine botanical ecosystem.

Free 15-min assessment
Plant Mom, PhD · Lydia VillaServing the Bay Area Peninsula